Delinquency and the profile of offences among depressed and non-depressed adolescents.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Depression has previously been found to be closely connected to adolescent delinquency, but little is known about how depression is related to different types of delinquency.

AIM:
To investigate patterns of criminal behaviour according to depression among repeatedly delinquent adolescents.

METHOD:
The sample was 14- to 16-year-old repeatedly delinquent adolescents (n 3679) taking part in the Finnish School Health Promotion Study, surveyed for versatility and specialization of delinquency in relation to depression.

RESULTS:
Patterns of criminal behaviour differed between depressed and non-depressed delinquent adolescents. The delinquent behaviour of depressed adolescents was more versatile than that of non-depressed adolescents who mainly specialized in one offence type. Non-depressed delinquent boys had most often specialized in violence. Most depressed delinquent boys had committed a variety of offences, but among those who did specialize the specialist category was violent offences. Non-depressed delinquent girls had specialized in shoplifting. Among depressed delinquent girls vandalism was the most typical offence.

CONCLUSION:
Differences in the delinquent behaviour of depressed and non-depressed delinquent adolescents suggest the value of including clinical assessment, and treatment for some, in an appropriately comprehensive pattern of management.

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Author information

Author/s: Ritakallio, Minna (M); Kaltiala-Heino, Riittakerttu (R); Kivivuori, Janne (J); Luukkaala, Tiina (T); Rimpelä, Matti (M);

Affiliation: University of Tampere, Tampere School of Public Health, Tampere, Finland. minna.ritakallio(-atsign-)uta.fi

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Criminal behaviour and mental health : CBMH (Crim Behav Ment Health), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-; vol 16 (issue 2) : pp 100-10

Dates: Created 2006/06/12; Completed 2006/09/12;

PMID: 16755524, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Crime - statistics & numerical data
Depression - epidemiology; psychology

Depression - epidemiology; psychology
Humans
Juvenile Delinquency - statistics & numerical data

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